Crutch and like article.



E'. vieonorr.v cRU'rcH Mm LIKEAHUCLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR'. 30, ESIS.

1,284,991.A Patented Nov. 19,1918.

EDGAR C. BEECROFT,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CRUTGH AND LIKE ARTICLE.

` Application aiea Apr-n 3o,

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDGAR C. Bnnonorr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutches and like Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to crutches and like articles and more particularly to an attachment for such articles for preventing the same from slipping upon an icy or other slippery surface. The general object of my invention is to provide an improved attachment of this character.

More especially my invention relates to an attachment of said type, having means for engaging and securing a firm grip on such slippery surface, said means being movable with respect to the crutch to permit positioning thereof either in operative position or in inoperative or retracted position in which the original use of the crutch is permitted; and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is convenient to operate and readily applied to an ordinary crutch or the like and wherein the means for securing a hold or a grip upon the slippery surface is securely held against accidental displacement from operative position.

@ther objects, features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following' description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.

ln the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crutch with the said embodiment of the invention;

Fig. Q is a front elevation of the lower end of the same on a larger scale, the device for gripping the slippery surface being shown in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. with the exception -of the casing inclosing a part of the device, the device for gripping the slippery surface being shown in solid lines in operative position and in dot and dash lines in inoperative or `re tracted position;

Fig. 4L is a side elevation of the parts Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 19, 1918..

1918. Serial No. 231,583.

shown in Fig. 3, the device for gripping the slippery surface being shown in solid lines in operative position or retracted position;

F ig. 5 is a seetiontaken on the line 5 5 of F ig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 7 is a View partly in cross section and partly in plan of a detail of the form of the invention disclosed;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the tread forming a part of the device illustrated for gripping the slippery surface; and

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 3 from the rear.

Referring to the drawings, the anti-slipping attachment is provided with a body portion 1 which, as shown, is in the form of a casting secured to the lower end of the Vcrutch 2 desirably slightly above the usual rubber ferrule 3 at the lower end or ltip portion of the crutch. The body member, as shown, conforms to and engages substantially throughout its length the adjacent portion of the crutch and, as shown,is secured in place upon the crutch by clamps comprising bands 4 which are fastened adjacent one end, as by screws 5, t0 projections 6 on the body member 1, the opposite ends of the said bands forming jaws 7 arranged opposite to but slightly spaced from fixed jaws 8 on the body member l. Suitable means, such as the screws 9, are provided to draw the jaws 7 and 8 together so as to firmly clamp the crutch between the bands 4 and the body member l. If desired the surfaces of the said bands and of the body member l engaging .the crutch may be roughened, as 'shown 1n Fig. 5, so that a firmer grip may be obtained by the bands and the body member l upon the crutch. To adapt the device more readily for crutches having lower ends of different diameters the bands 4 are desirably made adjustable, as by providing each band with a plurality of openings 10. as shown in F ig. 6, for the reception of the screws 5, these openings being arranged in longitudinal alineinent adjacent one end of the corresponding band.

For further insuring against displacement of the 'attachment longitudinally of the crutch when the same'is in use, I provide suitable means engaging the tip of the crutch, such as member 12' which is pivoted to the body member 1 at 18 adjacent the lower end of the body member and extends thence downwardly along the crutch to thetip thereof, the lower end of the member 12 being turned inwardly as shown at 18', and engaging the lower lface or tip of the crutch.. Byy pivoting` the mem-ber 12, as shown, for movement about an axis in a plane at right angles to the length of the crutch the said member is adapted to be readily moved into close engagement with the lower end of the crutch; and the said member is further desirably curved transversely along the longitudinally extending portion thereof to conform tothe shape of the lower end of the crutch. Then the member 12 has beeny placed in operativev relation to the crutch it may be held there in anyy suitable manner, as by placing over the same and the lower end of the crutch the ferrule 8 as shown.

The means for securing a grip on the icy' or other slippery surface are carried by the body member 1, the means'as shown compris'- ing a rod 14 provided at its lower end with al tread 15, the tread being provided at the bottom thereof with suitable means, such as the sharp points or projections 16 for preventing slipping' thereof upon the ice' when engaged therewith. The tread is desirably' arranged at such an angle to the rod 14 and the lower end of the crutch that the tread will rest flat upon the ground when the crutch, as is usual in itsv use, is inclined outwardly at an angle to the vertical. Satisfad tory results are obtained when they tread is inclined at an angle of between ten and fifteen degrees with a plane passing through the'rod 14 and the lower end of the crutch at right angles to the axes thereof. The tread as shown is approximately semi-circular in shape, having a narrow curved portion 17 and a narrow straight portion 18 connecting the ends of the curved portion, the axis of the rod 14 passing through the axial center of the curved portion 17. rl`he portions 17 and 18 are connected, as by the radial ribs 19, with a socket portion 20 whereby the tread is secured to the rod 14. The open spaces' provided between the parts 17, 18 and 19 serve to insure against interference with the gripping effect of the tread by the clogging of the saine with dirt, snow or other similar material with which the tread comes into en.

gagement. When the tread is in operative position it projects inwardly under the tip of the crutch so thatl it is arranged in a convenient position to take the downward pressure of the crutch upon the same.

To permit positioning of the tread either into operative or inoperative position, the rod 14, as shown, is supported by inwardly directed walls 21 and 22, which are desirably integral with the member 1, for movement or inoperative position.

collar. 25 which is secured to the rod 14, tends to hold the said rod and the tread in elevated For holding the said rod and the tread carried thereby in lowered or operative position the said rod i's provided with projections 26 which are adapted to pass through slots 27 in the wall 22' and to engage vthe lower surface ofthe said wall. To prevent the said projections from slipping back toward and through said slots, thus allowing the rod 14 to move upwardly from operative to inoperative position, the lower surface of the wall 22 is provided with a projection 28 tapering downwardly and away from one of the slots 27 and provided at its end remote from the said slot with an upright wall 28 forming a shoulder against which one of the. projections 26 is arranged to bear, the other projection 26 resting at the same time against one of the faces 29 formed on a part 80, which will be hereinafter more fully referred to. The arrangement is such that after the projections 26 have been moved into engagement with the lowerface of the wall 22 and rest against` the shoulder 28 and the surface 29, respectively, rotation of the member 14 is possible only by first moving the rod 14 downwardly sufficiently far to permit the adjacent projection 26 to clear the ypart 28.

The spring 24 serves to yieldingly hold the` rod 14 and the projections 26 carried thereby in locking engagement with the parts 28 and 80. By reason of the inclined or cam shape of the part 28 the projections 26 are so guided as to be readily movable into locking position or from locking position toward slots 27.

In order to exclude dirt from the locking device just described the member 1 is de- Sirably provided with an apron 82 extending downwardly below the wall 22, and the lower end of the spa-ce within the apron is closed by a member 88. This memberl may be secured in position in any suitable manner, the said member, as shown, being provided with an upwardly extending part 80 already referred to, and with lugs 84, which are secured to the apron in any suitable manner, as by screws 85. The wall 88 limits the downward movement of the projections 26 and the rod 14. This answers a useful purpose which will appear more fully hereinor other adhesive material, I provide means whereby rotation of the projections 26 from operative position toward the slots 27 1s normally prevented, even if the said projections 26 should be moved downwardly below the cam shaped member 28. Such means, as shown, comprises a projection or lug 40 slidable longitudinally of the rod 14 in a slot 41 therein, the projection 4() being carried by a rod 42 the lower end of which is arranged for up and down movement in an axial opening' 43 extending inwardly at the upper end of the rod 14. A spring 44 seated at the bottom of the opening 43 and bearing against the lower surface of the rod 42 tends normally7 to hold the latter in position with the projection 40 engaging' the upper end of slot 41. A longitudinal projection or stop 45 on the body member 1 is arranged to be enga ged by projection 40 to prevent rotation thereof and of the member 14 in a direction to position the projections 26, so as to enable them to move upwardly through slots 27. After the tread has been locked in operative position the downward movement of the rod 14 is limited by engagement of the projections 26 with the member 33; and so long as the rod 42 is held by the spring 43 in its elevated position with respect to the rod 14, the lug or projection 40 will not pass under the project-ion 45. When it is desired to move the tread from operative to inoperative position, rod 42 is pressed downwardlyn as b v the thumb piece 46. -whereupon rod 42 is lirst moved downwardly relatively to the rod` 14 against the pressure of the spring 44, and then by further pressure. on thethumb piece 46 the projections 26 are moved ldownwardly to clear the lower end of the cam shaped par-t28, the projection 40, which now engages the lower end of the slot 41 being tli'en in position to pass under the projection or stop 45 thereby permitting the rotation of the rod 14 to bringthe projections A26 to apositionwhere they will pass upwardly through slots 27.

Then .the tread`15is in inoperative position` to which position it is moved from voperative position by spring 24 after the releaseot the locking means 26 as hereinbefore described. it is arranged,entirely above and to 'one side of thetip ofthe crutch. lvhcn in its elevated position it is desirably held against rotation; and .l have provided suitable means servingnot only to hold the red 14 and the tread 15 against. rotation when the tread is in itsV retracted or inoperative position but also to guide the projections 26 toward the slots 27 whenA the tread moved downwardly from inoperative position to operative'posit-ion. means, as. shown, comprise longitudinally arranged guide rods 48 vwhich may be cast integrally with the walls 21 and 22 and which are provided with' surfaces.. engaging the icy or other ins' These Y the projections 26 on the same side, as shown in Fig. 7. The arrangement of these members 48 with respect to the slots 27, 1s clearly Shown in F ig. 6.

A suitable casing 50 is provided for the body inenbor 1, this casing, as shown., being secured in position, as by means of screws 51 threaded into the wall 22 and a aterally projecting wall 52 at the ripper end of the body member 1. One of the lora'itudinal edge portions of this casing, as shown at 53, is arranged to cover the ends of the straps 4 which are secured to the projection 6, casing 50 extending' thence around and contacting the walls 52, 21 and 22 so as to inclose the body memberl 1 between the walls 52 and 22, the other edge portion of the said casing extending forwardly, then laterally and outwardly, and then rearwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, so as to form a guard around jaws 7 and 8 and in proximity to the screws 9 to prevent clothing or the like from being caught upon said jaws and screws. The inwardly directed edge portion of the guard may be cut away, as shown at 54, to permit access to the screws 9. v

vNormally when the attachment has been applied to the lower end of the crutch but is not in use, the tread 15 is elevated above the'lower end of the crutch, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, thereby permitting the ferrule 8 to so that the crutch may manner.

be used in the usual When it is desired to secure the tread in operative position, the user presses the vheadl or thumb piece 46 downwardly, first bringing the projection 40 into engagement with the lower end of the slot 41 and then moving the rod 14 downwardly against the pressure of the spring 2.4,until the projections 26 pass ythrough slots 27, whereupon the head 46 is rotated to move one of the projections 26 into engagement with the surface 29; 'Upon the spring 24 now moves the projections 26 engage the ground' release of the head 46l into Vlocking position, the tread 15 being` held below'the ferrule 3, with its pointed lower surface in position tol be vengaged with slippery surface. .When it is desired' to move the tread to inoperative position,`the user 46 until the projection 40 clears the projection 45, whereupon by rotation of the head 46 the projections 26 are moved out of lock-l Y position` to a position opposite the slots 27, after which the springs 24 and automatically return the parts to their normal. positions.v In operating the invention either when moving the tread to operative position or when moving the same to inoperative position, the downward movement of the head 46S/may be continued until the rod 14 en` presses down on the head the like.l which can be applied to the latter Without any change therein and that, Without detaching the said device, it may be rendered inoperative so as to permit the ordinary use of the crutch. 1t will also be seen that When the non-slipping device is in inoperative position it is locked in this position against accidental displacement.

While 1 have shown the most approved form of the invention, it is to be understood that 1 am not limited to this form and that many changes and modifications may be made in the preferred embodiment of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An anti-slipping attachment for an article such as a crutch, comprising a body member, means carried by said body member and comprising a tread having an extended lower surface and formed to secure a firm hold on a slippery surface, and means for detachably securing said body member to the crutch With said hold securing means arranged outside of the ,crutch and to one side thereof, said hold securing means being movable relatively to said body member either intooperative or inoperative position.

2. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch, comprising a ybody member, means carried by said member for securing a hold on a slippery surf-ace, said means comprising a flat tread having a lower gripping surface and supporting means for said treadmovable longitudinally with said body member to position said tread in advanced orretracted position With respect to said bodyY member, releasable means co acting Withv said supporting member lfor securing said treadV in advanced position, andi means tending to automatically move said supporting means and tread into retracted position upon. the release of said securing means.y y

3. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch, comprising a body member, means carried by said member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means` being movable with respect to. said body member either into operative or inoperative position,vreleasable means co-acting with said iirst named means forholding the same against movement from operative position, and means normally preventing release of said holding means by the application of force directly to said first named means.

laAn anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch, comprising a body member, means carried by said member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means being movable with respect to said body memberV either into operative or inoperative position, releasablemeans co-,aeting respect to means being movable with respect to saidy body member either into operative or inoperative position, spring actuated means c0- acting with said first named means for holding the same against movement from operative position, and means normally preventing release of said holding means by the application of force directly to said first named means.

6. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch, comprising'a body-member, means carried by said member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means being movable With respectv to said body member either into operative or inoperative position, releasable means co-acting with said iirst named means for holding the same against movement from operative position, and means normally preventing release of said holding means by the application of force directly to said lfirst named means, said preventing means comprising co-acting stop members, one of .which is movable into or out of operative relation to the other. y

7. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch, comprising a body member, means carried by said member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means being movable with respect to said body member either into operative or inoperative position, releasable means co-acting with said first named means for locking the same against movementy from operative position, and means normally preventing release of said locking means, said preventing Vmeans comprising co-acting stop members,

one of which is movable into or out of operative relation to the other, and yielding means tending to hold said stop members in operative relation to each other.

8. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch comprising a means for supporting said tread either on one side of the crutch above the tip thereof or with an operative portion thereof under the tip of the crutch.

9. An anti-slipping device for an articlel such as a crutch comprising a tread and means for supporting said tread either on one side of the crutch above the tip thereof or With an operative portion thereof under the tip of the crutch, said supporting means comprising a member carrying said tread and permitting lateral and up and down movement thereof, and locking means cotread and acting with said member to secure the tread in operative position.l

10. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch comprising a tread and means for supporting said tread either on one side of the crutch above the tip thereof or with an operative portion thereof under the tip of the crutch, said supporting means comprising a member arranged to extend longitudinally along one side of the crutch, .said member being movable longitudinally and rotatably about itslongitudinal axis to permit movement of the tread into or out of operative position.

11. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch comprising a body, means carried by said body for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means being movable relatively to said body into operative or inoperative position and comprising a member movable longitudinally and rotatably, and ymeans for holding said member in advanced position with respect to said body, said last named means comprising a projection, aseat against which said projection is adapted to bear, and into or out of engagement with which it is adapted to be brought by rotation of said member, and means tending to move said projection. upwardly into engagement with said seat;

12. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a. crutch comprising a body, means carried by said body for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means being movable relatively to said body into operative or inoperativeposition and comprising a member movable longitudinally and rotatably, and means for holding said member in advanced position with respect to said body, said last named means comprising a projection, a seat against which said projection is adapted to bear and-into or out of engagement with which it is adapted to be brought by rotation of said member, means tending to hold said projection in engagement with said seat, and means normally preventing rotation of said member from operative advanced position with respect to said body.

13. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch comprising a body, means carried by said body for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means being movable relatively to said body member into operative or inoperative position and comprising a member movable longitudinally and rotatably, and means for holding said member in advanced position with respect to said body, said last named means comprising a projection, a seat against which said projection is adapted to bear and into or out of engagement with which it is adapted to be brought by rotation of Said member, means tending to hold said projection in engagement with said seat, and means normally preventing rotation of said projection.

14. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch comprising a bcily, asians carried by said body for securing a hold -on a slippery surface, said means being movable relatively to said body into operative or inoperative position and comprising a member movable longitudinally and rotatably, and means for holding said member in advanced position with respect to said body, said last named means comprising` a projection, a seat againstrwhich said projection is adapted to bear and into or out of engagement with which it is adapted to be brought by rotationof said member, means tending to hold said projection in engagement with said seat, and means normally preventing` rotation of said member from operative advanced position with respect to said body, saidlast named means comprising a member provided with a shoulder adapted to be engaged by said projection, means normally preventing rotation of said first named member when the same is in advanced position and disengaged from said shoulder, and means for rendering said last named means inoperative.

15. An anti-slipping device for an article such as a crutch comprising a body, means carried by said body for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means being movable relativ-ely to said body into operative or inoperative position and comprising a member movable longitudinally and rotatably, and means for holding said member in advanced position with respect to said body, said last named means comprising a projection, a seat against which said projection is adapted to bear and into or ont of engagement with which it is adapted to be brought by rotation of said member, and means for guiding said projection toward operative position with respect to said seat.

16. The combination with a member such as a crutch, of means secured to one side of said member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means comprising a tread inclined to the said member whereby a substantially flat contact is made with such surface when said member is held at an angle to the vertical.

17. The combination with a member'such as a crutch, of means secured to one side of said member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said means comprising an inclined tread having projections on its lower surface and having also an opening therethrough to prevent the same from being clogged with dirt, snow or other substances engaged thereby.

18. The combination of a body member j lio adapted to be secured to one side of an article such as a crutch, said member being provided with a device arranged to extend under and engage the tip of the crutch, and separate means carried by said body member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said device tending to prevent downward movement of the crutch relatively to 'said body member when said means is in engagement with the slippery surface.

19. rlhe Combination of a crutch, a body member secured thereto and having a device extending under and engaging the tip of the crutch, a ferrule arranged over said device, and means carried by said body member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said device tending to prevent downward movement of the crutch relatively to said body member when said means is in engagement with the slippery surface.

20. The combination of a body member adapted to be secured to an article such as a crutch, said member being provided with a device arranged-to extend under and engage the tip of the crutch, and separate means carriedl by said body member for securing a hold on a slippery surface, said device being movable laterally to permit the same to be adjusted into close engagement with the tip end of the crutch and tending to prevent downward movement of the crutch relatively to said body member when said means is in engagement with the slippery surface.

2l. An anti-slipping attachment for an article such as a crutch comprising a body member, means carried thereby for securing a hold on a slippery surface, and means comprising an adjustable band carried by said body member and adapted to it tightly around the crutch for securing said body member to the crutch.

22. An anti-slipping attachment for an article such as a crutch comprising a body member, means carried thereby for securing -a hold on a slippery surface, means carried by said body member' and adapted to fit tightly around the crutch .for securing said body member to said crutch, said last named means comprising a pair of jaws and means for drawing the same together, and a guard for said jaws and said last named means to prevent objects, vsuch as clothing, from being caught thereon. p

23. An anti-slipping attachment for an article, such as a crutch, comprising a tread having an extended lower surface, a rod supporting said tread, and means for securing said rod to the crutch to permit movement of said tread either into lowered position for engaging the ground or into inoperative,

position on one side of the crutch, the axis of' said rod intersecting said tread close to the edge thereof which is nearest the crutch when the tread is in inoperative position.

24. An antieslipping device for an article,

such as a crutch, comprising a tread having an extended lower surface adapted to sccure ay firm hold on a slippery surface, a rod supporting said tread, said tread being inclined to said rod, and means for detachably securing said rod and tread on one side of the crutch, said means permitting movement of said tread either into lowered position for engaging the ground or into inoperative position to one side of the crutch.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDGAR C. BEECROFT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner f Patents, Washington, D. G. 

